Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Foote.
Hi Micah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Micah Foote, and I grew up in Fresno, California. If you know the area, you know there isn’t necessarily a huge creative industry there, especially when it comes to the kind of work I was drawn to: music, live shows, touring, building bands, and creating something of my own. Looking back, though, I’m incredibly grateful I grew up there. In a strange way, not having everything readily available forced me to take my dreams more seriously and figure out how to create opportunities for myself.
I grew up as one of three brothers and as a pastor’s kid, which came with a lot of expectations from an early age. I felt the weight of those expectations pretty heavily, and for a while, I responded by rebelling against them. I was sneaking out, getting into partying, and generally trying to find my own identity outside of what I felt was expected of me. Music became the place where I could process all of that. It gave me somewhere to put the chaos in my head and eventually became one of the most important outlets in my life.
Music was always around me growing up. My dad was a worship leader and kept a lot of his musical equipment at home, so instruments and recording gear were just part of my environment. He was also part of a successful touring cover band that traveled around the world, which gave me an early glimpse into what a life built around music could actually look like.
At first, music was just something I played around with. Around 14 or 15, though, I started taking production more seriously and learning how to make beats. What started as curiosity turned into an obsession. I was building songs and experimenting constantly, and music became a genuine escape from the things I was struggling with internally. I’m incredibly grateful I had that outlet because, in many ways, it changed the direction of my life.
When I was 16, I released a song called “Summer15” that unexpectedly became a local hit. It was my first real taste of what it felt like to have people recognize something I had created. The song has since gone on to reach more than 600,000 plays on SoundCloud, which is still surreal to me considering how young I was when I made it.
After graduating high school, I was still trying to figure out exactly what I wanted my life to look like. I eventually followed some friends to San Diego while they went to college, and I started working whatever jobs I could find: serving, security, and even working on the UCSD campus. But eventually, I realized I didn’t want music to simply remain something I did on the side. I wanted to build my life around creating.
Since moving to San Diego, I’ve gone all in on that idea. I began releasing music under my solo project, Micah!, started a band called The Messengers, and eventually started building my own label and creative house called Made By Homegrown.
What excites me most now is that Made By Homegrown is becoming bigger than just my own music. I’m working toward creating a space within the community where young people can have access to music production, songwriting, recording, business education, and the creative tools that I wish I had access to when I was younger. I want to help people understand that they don’t necessarily have to wait for someone to give them permission to pursue a creative career. They can learn how to build something themselves.
A lot of my story has been about turning things that once felt limiting into fuel. Growing up in Fresno, feeling the pressure of expectations, struggling to figure out who I was, discovering music, and eventually moving to San Diego all played a role in getting me here. Now, I’m trying to take everything I’ve learned and build something that gives other people the opportunity to chase their own ideas seriously.
For me, that’s really what Made By Homegrown represents: creating the opportunities and community that I once had to figure out how to create for myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I think one of the biggest struggles has been learning how to believe in something before there is any evidence that it will work. Pursuing music, building a band, starting a label, and trying to create a career in the arts can feel incredibly uncertain. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve questioned whether I was being unrealistic or if I should just take a more traditional path.
Moving from Fresno to San Diego was also a major transition. I didn’t have a clear roadmap for what I was doing, and I spent years working different jobs while trying to build my creative career on the side. Balancing making money, paying bills, creating music, playing shows, touring, and building a business has been challenging. There have been times when I’ve had to make sacrifices financially and personally just to keep moving forward.
I’ve also had to overcome a lot of my own internal struggles. Growing up with high expectations and feeling like I had to live up to a certain standard made me rebel pretty hard when I was younger. Music became an outlet for that, but it also forced me to confront a lot of things about myself. I’ve had to learn discipline, patience, and how to keep going even when the excitement wears off.
One of the biggest lessons has been realizing that there really isn’t a finish line. Every time I accomplish something I once thought was impossible, there’s another challenge waiting. But I’ve started to appreciate that part of the process. The uncertainty, failures, weird jobs, empty rooms, small shows, financial sacrifices, and moments of doubt have all taught me how to build something from the ground up.
I don’t think I would change that part of the journey. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it has made me much more resourceful and much more committed to what I’m building. If anything, the struggles have made me want to create opportunities for other people so they don’t have to feel like they’re completely figuring it out alone.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work sits at the intersection of music, live entertainment, and creative entrepreneurship. I’m a recording artist under my solo project, Micah!, a songwriter and producer, and a member of the band The Messengers. I also founded Made By Homegrown, a label and creative house that I’m building around music, production, live events, and eventually education.
As an artist, I specialize in making energetic, melodic music that pulls from indie, alternative, hip-hop, and pop. I love creating songs that feel personal but still have enough character to connect with a larger audience. Beyond the music itself, I’m really interested in the entire ecosystem around an artist, including recording, releasing, touring, branding, visual art, merchandise, and building a community around the work.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve gradually learned how to create opportunities instead of waiting for them. When I wanted to make music, I learned production. When I wanted to play shows, I started building a band. When I wanted to release and develop other creative projects, I started a label and creative house. That mindset has become a huge part of who I am.
What sets me apart is probably the fact that I’m genuinely interested in every side of the creative process. I don’t just want to be the person on stage. I want to understand how the record gets made, how the show gets booked, how the visual identity gets developed, how the business works, and how all of those pieces can come together into something bigger.
I’m also especially proud of where I’m taking Made By Homegrown. My goal isn’t simply to build another label. I want to create a community and eventually a physical space where young artists can learn music production, songwriting, recording, and the business side of the industry. I know what it feels like to have the ambition but not necessarily have a clear roadmap, and I want to help make that roadmap more accessible for the next generation.
Ultimately, I think what sets me apart is that I’m not interested in waiting for the industry to create a place for me. I’d rather build one.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always pretty curious, independent, and restless. I was the kind of kid who wanted to figure things out for myself, and I had a lot of energy that I didn’t always know what to do with. Being one of three brothers definitely contributed to that. There was always something going on, and I was constantly looking for something new to get into.
I was also very creative from a young age. Music was always around because of my dad, but I was interested in a lot of different forms of creativity. I liked making things, experimenting with technology, being outside, and eventually getting into photography, video, skateboarding, surfing, and other creative outlets. I’ve always had a hard time being interested in just one thing.
Personality wise, I was probably a little rebellious. Growing up as a pastor’s kid came with a lot of expectations, and I didn’t always respond to those expectations very well. I wanted to figure out who I was on my own, which sometimes meant making questionable decisions and pushing boundaries. Looking back, though, I think that same independent streak eventually became one of my greatest strengths.
I was also a dreamer. Even when I didn’t necessarily have a clear plan, I always felt like I was supposed to do something different. Music eventually gave that feeling a direction. What started as messing around with beats and recording became something I took seriously, and eventually became the foundation for the life I’m building today.
Pricing:
- Studio Recording: $60/hour with an engineer, with a 2-hour minimum.
- Mixing & Mastering: $100 per song.
- Live Video & Podcast Production: $75/hour.
- Rehearsal Space: $25/hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://madebyhomegrown.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahfff/
